2005 Women's National Invitation Tournament

2005 Women's National Invitation Tournament
Teams32
Finals siteHammons Student Center
Springfield, Missouri
ChampionsMissouri State (1st title)
Runner-upWest Virginia (1st title game)
Semifinalists
Winning coachKatie Abrahamson-Henderson (1st title)
MVPJenny Lingor (Missouri State)
Attendance8,871 (championship game)
Top scorerJenny Lingor (Missouri State)
(116 points)
Women's National Invitation Tournaments
«2004 2006»

The 2005 Women's National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2005 Women's NCAA tournament. It was the eighth edition of the postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament.

The final four of the tournament paired Missouri State against Iowa and West Virginia against Kentucky. Missouri State upended Iowa 89–80. Meanwhile, West Virginia and Kentucky played a double overtime thriller, which ended up with West Virginia winning 80–75.

The final pitted Missouri State and West Virginia against each other in Springfield, Missouri, as the Lady Bears hosted at the Hammons Student Center. The game was another close one for both teams, with Missouri State ultimately pulling out the victory for their 1st WNIT Championship, 78–70.[1][2]

Bracket

Region 1

*Host • Source[3]

March 16–17 March 19–21 March 22–24
         
Tulsa 62
Texas A&M 73
Texas A&M 65
Texas A&M-CC 59
Fresno State 52
Texas A&M Corpus Christi* 56
Texas A&M 60
Missouri State* 62
SMU 56
Missouri State* 83
Missouri State 85
Gonzaga 66
BYU 57
Gonzaga 71

Region 2

*Host • Source[3]

March 16–17 March 19–21 March 22–24
         
UNLV 48
Arkansas 61
Arkansas 84
Arkansas State 98
Mississippi State 61
Arkansas State* 78
Arkansas State 52
Iowa 66
Nebraska 66
Marquette 57
Nebraska 67
Iowa 71
Creighton 52
Iowa 67

Region 3

*Host • Source[3]

March 16–17 March 19–21 March 22–24
         
Illinois 60
Indiana State 72
Indiana State 70
Xavier 79
Xavier 87
Western Kentucky 85
Xavier 62
Kentucky 67
Eastern Michigan 68
Kentucky 79
Kentucky 91
Chattanooga 54
Villanova 40
Chattanooga 50

Region 4

*Host • Source[3]

March 16–17 March 19–21 March 22–24
         
Charlotte 75
Wake Forest 100
Wake Forest 78
South Florida 63
Florida 56
South Florida 61
Wake Forest 52
West Virginia 65
St. John's 56
Delaware 42
St. John's 63
West Virginia 68
Maine 59
West Virginia 74

Semifinals and championship game

WNIT Semifinals
March 26–28 		WNIT Championship Game
March 31, 2005
      
Missouri State 89
Iowa 80
Missouri State 78
West Virginia 70
Kentucky 75
West Virginia 80 2OT

All-tournament team

  • Jenny Lingor, Missouri State (MVP)
  • Kari Koch, Missouri State
  • Yolanda Paige, West Virginia
  • Meg Bulger, West Virginia
  • Crystal Smith, Iowa
  • Sara Potts, Kentucky

Source:[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "MISSOURI STATE TAKES 2005 WNIT CROWN IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL". mvc-sports.com. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Missouri State outlasts West Virginia in Postseason WNIT championship". wnit.com. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "2005 Postseason Bracket (PDF) - WNIT Pre and Post Tournament" (PDF). womensnit.com. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  4. ^ "Missouri State outlasts West Virginia in Postseason WNIT championship". March 31, 2005. Retrieved March 28, 2022.